deja-view

So, is my 1971 Metro 27' single with a dolly anything special?

Needs paint. Seriously....it's really looking good. At some point you'll need to put it up against another model or something to show its size.

Gold accents with that red will be awesome!

That's a great red for sure. Are you gonna use a complementary color for the roof or keep it simple?

What a great idea. I used to search for electrical connectors to use but they were mostly too big, and grinding them down to size was a PITA. I finally broke down and bought some scale end links online,but have not used them yet.

LOL! Actually, all that progress in 3 months deserves a medal in my build arena. You're like a rocket ship that dropped it's boosters and is just getting into orbit. It would be fun to meet up at a show sometime and put my "old school" mild custom next to your more modern "extreme" version. The Cord is a car just begging for customizing, but most people don't give it much thought....I guess because it's so great looking as a true classic car already.

Looking very nice. Did you snip one side of the cotter pins off as you fit them into the holes?

This is a great car to do. My dad had a '57 300 that was the same "pink" (coral). After it faded a bit it was easier to look at. I just bought an ERTL '57 300 of the same color and I was surprised to see that it actually captures it really well. Yours looks a little "hot", but then it's a computer screen and the paint is really fresh. I'll bet with the chrome and other colors it will blend perfectly. I think his interior was similar, too. But the portion you have tan was some kind of grayish with a pattern to it. Those seats seemed a mile wide.

Yes, it is an Allis-Chalmers. On the box they also refer to it as an HD3 and a D3. Maybe that's just a reference to size. We had a D2 and a Ford on our ranch in Norcal, and my brother recently bought one this size...a "D3"...but I'm not sure if it's CAT or something else. I have been fascinated by the D8's and other big dozers since I was a little kid...just like the big steam locomotives. There's just something about big steel that's breathtaking.

Not sure about a BBC for it, but there are lots of intertesting wheels at the RC part of hobby shops. A BBC would defnitely be cool. What about the engine from the Pontiac Trans Ams? Technically, there is no BB in Pontiac engines (they all used the same basic block for 326-455), but they would fill the compartment better. Dunno what you'd do for valve covers, though. BBC covers are pretty plain, and I think I saw some on ebay a few years back.

An amazing transformation!

Welcome. I thought it was a man of "wealth and fame" (rhymes with name), but I haven't heard that for about 30 years.

Or, a big "Orange Crate".

I'm having some trouble with my storage and feed, so I had to retrieve some pics from old files. I want to see if they will load, and give you some food for thought on yours. I chose this color because it was the original. You might be able to see the aluminum duct foil I used to do the window mouldings. They simulate the stainless ok, but the surface has to be dead smooth and it takes some work. The + is that the scale thickness is perfect. Dunno if you can see it, but I opened the side vents (gills). They really aren't molded the right depth to make it look like a 1:1, but it's better than being solid. The springs are just wrapped solder. We have springs that will look much better now. You can see in the first pics that I did the interior in real leather -- including the curved dashtop sections. Definitely not worth the trouble. Since then I came up with a much better, cleaner simulation of vinyl and leather. Hosted on Fotki

A couple of kit issues: The expansion tank and chromed parts other than the air cleaner and ignition cover(s) shuld be aluminum finish. The fitting from the expansion tank should be a "T" . I didn't have anything to make a proer T, so I faked it. "T" fittings are easy to get or make now. The heater hoses are correctly routed, though. Hosted on Fotki

This is what I was going to use in my second version. I didn't want the F.I., either. I don't know why Monogram didn't include a proper 4bbl setup at the very beginning.

The engine block, including water pump, oil pan, and rear flywheel dust cover should be Chevy Orange. Hosted on Fotki Oil filter canister should be black. You can add the e-brake system and the clutch lever and spring like I did...but use better materials. Hosted on Fotki Here's the correct setup for exhaust, e-brake, brake lines, fuel lines, etc. I used real steel tubing because that's all I had then (a real pain to bend to shape). Hosted on Fotki

Let's try this again: Stock air Holley 4bbl cleaner shell: Hosted on Fotki Open air type. You can see the manifold detail a little better, and the chrome ignition cover is off. Hosted on Fotki BTW: My 1:1 '65 was bult as a mild custom so some things are not stock...like the chrome alternator moved to the left side so I could install a/c, and of course, the white coated headers and the water injection system, etc.

I had hoped so at the time. Actually, I had traded several emails with him to get more information before I went up. I'm not sure he was doing large scale at the time, and I appreciate all the work that goes into those big meets. It just didn't go well and left a bad taste.

I'm still seeing them on the forum and at my site.

Yeah...lol...putting these back together with no instructions after a few years is....ummm....a lot of guessing. Especially when the engine and rear end are from different cars. I still have to make a custom rear tonneau.

I haven't finished anything in a long time, but we have a really nice show and competition coming up this weekend so I thought I'd pick the "easiest" one to finish. Or, maybe not. It has been painted and polished ages ago, and the drivetrain and some undercarriage work started. I had picked the interior theme, and couldn't do much without finishing that so I got busy and added the carpet and test fit the dash before doing the final detailing on it. This is an old Maisto(?) 1/18 Mercedes 300S Cabriolet. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki I guess I have a ways to go...and I always get bogged down in details...so, should I try to rush and complete it...or just take it as a WIP and display it as such? Hosted on Fotki

I'm glad for them and thier customers, but I did the natural thing and bought up a bunch of their limited sets so i'd have some later...and have some available for others. I guess that's like staking a claim on a silver mine and then discovering there's a big bonanza on the other side of the hill.

Got this yesterday. Not a kit, but I love CAT style tractors and heavy construction equipment. This one is 1/16 D3 from Spec Cast....good size for detailing. A blade AND a backhoe.....what more could a man want?! Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki

I'll just repeat my experience with GSL. I'm pretty sure it was 1997...made the long trip to SLC with 5 of my large scale builds. IMO I was treated like a leper. Mark seemed to have a real problem with large scale (there was no category for it), and he seemed more interested in hanging out with the "known" builders. There were some really nice builds. Augie Hiscano's 33 Ford S.R. was very impressive, though I think it was a redo from before with a little improvement. I saw others that had been modified from other shows to make the GSL "grade". I saw some very creative, quality ideas that got snubbed. I've won my share of awards at some very competitive shows, but this one seemed more like a gathering of the "buddies" to admire each other's work. Just my impression. To go back 15 years later with all the new scratchbuilding techniques/equipment and aftermarket parts is more for spectators unless you've mastered all the latest trends. IMO. But then, I can also pay for a lot of new stuff for the cost of the trip on this one. Or, make it a vacation to see the Tabernacle Choir.